In this inaugural episode of The Elite Educator, we welcome Paul Turner, a dedicated language and literature teacher with 28 years of experience. From an unexpected career shift from law enforcement to teaching, Paul shares his passion for experiential learning, international student trips, and the transformative power of education. Join us as we explore how travel, cultural immersion, and resilience shape both students and educators alike.

Guest Bio: Paul Turner is a dedicated Language and Literature teacher at Upper Canada College with 28 years of experience, specializing in foundational skills for Year 8 and 9 students. Passionate about travel and experiential learning, he has led student trips worldwide, including cultural and community service experiences in Mexico and Costa Rica. Committed to whole-school engagement, extracurriculars, and personal growth, Paul has no plans to retire—there’s still so much to accomplish with his students.

Social Media: Contacted Paul at: [email protected]

Thanks for listening to the show! It means so much to us that you listened to our podcast! If you would like to continue the conversation, please email me at [email protected].

This show is built on “The Secrets to Living A Fantastic Life.” Get your copy by visiting: https://secretsbook.now.site/home

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Two-time TEDx speaker, credentialed international mental health presenter, and suicide attempt survivor, David Bartley joins Bryce Hamilton LSCSW to share powerful messages about cultivating resiliency, understanding severe mental illness, suicidal thoughts, ideation, and giving insight into mental wellness.

David shares his story with his personal experience with suicide, healing, and what has made the most difference in his life on his journey post suicide attempt. Parents can hear first-hand from David what experiences led him to where he is, where he was, and how he found hope to continue forward and what they can do to help support their loved ones who struggle with depression and suicidal thoughts.

Check out our video here!

#parentingteens #teentalk #ParentingAdvice #ChildDevelopment #FamilyWellness #depressioninkids #teensuicide #suicideprevention #suicideawareness #suicidestories #resiliency #ParentingSupport #TherapyTalk #accidentalexperts #brycehamiltonlcsw #parentingtips #ect #zerosuicideintiative #davidwoodsbartley #tedx #tedtalks #teenadvice #depressioninteens #depression #anxiety #wellness #mentalhealthawareness #zerosuicide

Resources:
Suicide and Crisis Lifeline 988

For more resources, free guides and training please visit:
https://zerosuicide.edc.org/resources-parents

David Bartley is a TEDx Speaker and International Mental Health Storyteller. He is renowned for his ability to make daunting topics such as mental illness, trauma, and suicide approachable and understandable. Through his work, Bartley has made it his mission to help break the stigma surrounding these issues and show that recovery and prevention are achievable goals. His presentations emphasize practical tools and approaches for preventing suicide and supporting those struggling with mental illness, inspiring individuals and communities to take action. David is available to be booked for speaking engagements through his website:
https://www.davidwoodsbartley.com

Listen to his TEDx Talks:

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Barbara Birchim’s husband, Capt. James Birchim, was listed as Missing In Action in the Vietnam War in 1968. It didn’t take long for her to realize that the government wasn’t giving her the truth about what really happened that day in 1968. Barbara realized that it was going to be her responsibility to uncover the truth. Barbara was surprised to find out that the public didn’t know how this MIA issue was ongoing, even today, and that it’s the family that has to pursue the answers.

This is Barbara’s second book in her search for answers and the lengths she had to go through to get them. She didn’t even find out until 1998 that her husband was in Special Operations which answered some of her questions as to why she was having so much difficulty getting documents and answers from government officials. Barbara’s two books give the reader a good look at what it’s like to be put in this situation with a family member missing in action. The government says they leave no man behind. That’s a lie.

Because Barbara had so many documents and because she lives in a fire zone, she decided she needed to get the information into book form in case she lost her house in a fire. Barbara’s  first book, Is Anybody Listening, is a non-fiction account of all the agencies involved with covering up this issue of MIA/POWs. This book starts with WWII to 2005 and her journey in searching for answers through it. From 2005 to 2021, Barbara had accumulated many more facts about her husband’s case and felt compelled to write her second book,  Searching For The Truth. This book had to be a fiction based book because she couldn’t reveal her sources.

The Author

Linda Dooks was born and raised in a farming community in North Yorkshire a proud county of the UK. As child she would often doodle stories in a notebook, a notebook she hid from her parents who thought writing when other chores needed to be attended to, a waste of time, they often wondered why Linda dilly-dallied when taking the dog for a walk, the walk was brief but a necessary activity to get some doodling done. A trip to the local library on a Saturday was very often the hi-light of Linda’s week. The librarian there would keep all of Linda’s short stories she had written in a box under the counter, so that she could revisit them, plus allow her to read some of her favourite authors, Agatha Christie and Arthur Conon Doyle. 

Having left school to earn a living and learning that her librarian had died, Linda forgot about the box under the counter and often thinks what happened to it, but she didn’t forget about her desire to write, and picked that up again after the birth of her children. Linda joined a writing class in Hemsley, North Yorkshire, and with renewed encouragement wrote her children’s stories based on the North York Moors Railway adventures, maybe one day she will publish them. Let’s hope so.

Now retired from the local council and having more time to focus on the one thing she has loved throughout her life, Linda has written this debut novel, with the full support of her husband Peter and children Emma and Richard, plus a few other friends from nearby writing fraternities. So, let’s turn our attention to the book.

Check out our video chat here!

Book Two

Land of Opportunity Book Two

This is Linda’s latest book in the series

This is a smaller book than her first novel in the series but that’s not to say it’s any less lacking in substance, quite the contrary in fact. The story is a continuation from where the first book left off, so to get the bigger picture as to the characters and the narrative you need to read the books in sequence otherwise this new book of Linda’s isn’t going to be so meaningful to you. Like her first book it’s an easy read and again the scenes are very much reminiscent to the period leading up to WW1. 

It has been ten years since Rose Watson the main character left England, searching for a new life on the streets of New York with Agnes a companion she met on board the ship that took her away from a harrowing life back home. Her life has changed considerably, and adapting to a new set of circumstances proved to be more challenging than she anticipated. You need to be tough to survive the everyday occurrences of New York, street gangs and gang warfare are prominent round every corner.

Rose’s work at the Charity Board Society continues to shock and astound her as more and more immigrants arrive in New York via Ellis Island in search of a new life, a life free of penury and degradation. What shocks her the most is children arriving on their own abandoned by their families for all sorts of unfathomable reasons especially girls. Now married to Thomas Blackwood a wealthy successful businessman Rose has her own family and what she has learnt over the years she puts to good use to support and guide the upcoming next generation of young hopefuls that she sees around her trying to make a more prosperous life for themselves. But these are uncertain times as WW1 looms. So, what does lie ahead for Rose and all the characters that are in this second book. Well! You’ll have to read the books starting with the first book. 

Again, you’ll find the research Linda has undertaken to ensure the storyline is authentic and true to the period of that time is exemplary. The book like the first has many twists and turns, romance, murder, high society and gang warfare it’s all there wrapped up in forty- four exhilarating chapters. 

Book One

Land of Opportunity

Sixty-five stunning but brief chapters are wrapped up in this book to bring you a scintillating story about the character Rose Watson a sixteen-year-old girl born in North Yorkshire in the UK in 1897. Her early years were profoundly impacted upon by the death of her mother, which left her in an uncompromising family situation with an uncaring father and a precarious unwanted situation with regards to her brother whose advances towards her probably bordered on incestuous had she allowed matters to unfold. Growing up in a male dominated farming community with little sympathy Rose needed to escape her world of drudgery and unpalatable attention, a new world called with new prospects but equally a world adorned with new dangers.

Rose emigrates to America, New York to be precise, the boat journey across the Atlantic from Liverpool to Ellis Island New York was long and arduous. Agnes a budding singer who she meets lures her into New York’s dubious and dangerous underworld. Rose quickly learns that the tough streets of New York are not paved in gold. Rose’s one saving grace is that of Thomas Blackwood an American who she met while travelling to America. Does romance come her way or does another cruel lesson of life lurk around the corner. Hmm…I know what happens, but if you want to find out, then this historical fiction book which has been carefully researched to bring a sense of authenticity to it, is waiting for you to flick through its pages. So, flick through them.

The narrative is very well written, it’s an easy read, but a read packed with the reality of those times and what life was like then for a young girl braving a new adventure.

To learn more about Linda and her book head to her webpage www.lindadooks.com

Social Media Sites

https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61556560133968
https://www.linkedin.com/in/linda-dooks-6851a41a3

Award

International Impact Book Awards: Winner

Publisher

Blossom Springs Publishing. www.blossomspringpublishing.com / search bookstore/historical/ Linda Dooks

Podcast Info 

This podcast is available to listen to on all major podcast platforms search Talking Books hosted by J T Crowley. The video is available on YouTube search Talking Books hosted by J T Crowley, and now on Roku and Amazon Fire Stick streaming devices. Download the Experts and Authors app on your Roku or Amazon Firestick device or visit: www.Expertsandauthors.tv online and click TALKING BOOKS.

Thank you, Linda, for giving me the wonderful opportunity to chat to you about yourself and your books. I loved your zany character it made me laugh while we were putting this podcast together for the second time.

The story of consciousness describes the mystery of who we are; where we come from before birth and where we go after death. There is thinking in your body, mind and subconscious as well as beyond it. 

It is the dimensions of rational awareness of mind and heart you use for your ego and creative life on earth. Imagine that you have an all-pervading higher intelligence within in your many layered consciousness. How you employ it for this dynamic life with love, and the ways it works, make you the self you are. 

Consciousness is an energy which comes into the brain of the embryo to activate the mind for this life. It functions at many levels. The level we call the heart is influenced emotionally with love and loving. Consciousness radiates, and the way it relates in us and beyond is the story of our lives. We can use this to great effect with certain techniques. We are alive in several levels of consciousness.

In our Liturgy Challenge, the Young Crones offer up the Second Prayer of the Day for early morning. The best time to do this is after you have gotten yourself ready for the day whether that’s getting ready to go out to work or school or getting kids/grandkids out the door. You can take a brief moment to breathe, center yourself, and say this prayer as a reminder that you are NOW ready to face the day.

Mother and business owner, Grace Carter sits down with Bryce Hamilton LSCSW to discuss how corporate America, and other countries, fail working families, and what we can do about it. Together they discuss what keeps women especially from entering business and entrepreneurship. Join us as we discuss the power of community, how to support one another, and how to connect with resources and networks around you. A great resource for anyone struggling with raising their family while navigating a career or wanting to start a business. 

Check out our video here!

#ParentingAdvice #ChildDevelopment #FamilyWellness #ParentingSupport #TherapyTalk #accidentalexperts #brycehamiltonlscsw #parenting #therapytips #parentinghelp #parentingstruggles #wahm #sahm #workingmom #careermom #girlboss #womeninmalefields 

Grace Carter is a dynamic entrepreneur, visionary leader and mum of two, renowned for her innovative approach to business and her steadfast commitment to empowering women and advocating for gender equality. With over a decade of experience in brand development and strategic consultancy, an English Master’s degree with Distinction and formative experience at British Vogue, Grace has established herself as a trailblazer in her field.

Having built and led her own brand agency, Aphra, since 2015, Grace has since expanded into ownership of a range of brands, housed under The Metamorphose Group. This venture curates a varied collection of brands that intertwine creativity, storytelling, purpose, and passion to ignite growth, foster innovation, encourage collaboration to shape a brighter world.

Keep up with Grace by following:
https://www.agirlcalledgrace.co.uk
https://www.linkedin.com/in/grace-carter-aphra
https://metamorphosegroup.co.uk

Follow Accidental Experts on 
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We’ve all become somewhat accustomed to telehealth –  a video appointment with our own doctors but did you know that there is also virtual veterinary care?

We chatted with Penny Claus, a longtime traditional vet who is now practicing online.  Check out our video chat to learn when an online appointment might be appropriate and when an in-person visit is called for.

#virtualvet, #doghealth 

How would you prefer
To walk in?
Noticed or unnoticed?
A microbe …
An elephant or a mosquito, none knows?

I am a virgin mosquito
I, recently born …
Am couple of days old, floating bucket of water
Feeling more like in Lake Erie 2me, that is!
Even though, am becoming to my knowns …

Am not like humans at all! Floating in amniotic fluid, I am larva, floating in water
Not a fetus, when it lived, must be taken care of
I develop wings to live and be free …
I pick my victims very carefully, indeed with CO2

I am, am, free like, as all souls; are to be
I hate my family of Cu-li-ci-dae; Culicidae
All, in all with 3,700 species to their name’s
I say, “They all murders, biting victims to death
I don’t like that, I have 2be one with them?

Why, I been destined to kill?
Its now, embedded in my DNA
A curse to all mosquitoes
As they leave its victims
In their death beds!

Like an alien, undisguised! No, I say disguised!
Equipped with specialized nerve cells
“cpA” neurons with a highly specific receptor
To detect CO2
Sensing air human as they exhale
… yes, as they exhale

Examples of mosquitoes
Whom can be named deadly:
Aedes aegypti
Anopheles gambiae
Why I may say, transmit malaria & dengue?

It is an alien trait? … of a tiny living animal thing
Which such, criminality history …
Wherever they endemic, Africa & S. America
Use insect repellents, better yet
Cover your skin humans!

They kill anyone, whom release CO2
Feeding … more feeding on blood
… from outside of hosts
How you may say?
By piecing its mouthparts gaining entry

They’re parasites, with great sight
Known as ectoparasites
They often come
Without noticed
They need no invitations

They come …
For sure, they do
For a quick visit and a meal
Perhaps recent or not …
Surprise, they all want a speedy blood meal

Now out your way
As they make wave
For another victim
When hunger comes, once again
They can sense your perfume of CO2…

Mosquitoes loves, all blood types
However, they hate mine, of A!
Yes, they hate mine type “A”! Why is that?
That’s because Goddess, Minerva stands
In guard … scaring all of them! “Stop her!”

Mosquitoes hate certain odors
Disregarding your underarms
You must tend 2your guns, yourselves repellents
Citronella, eucalyptus, lavender, rosemary,
Peppermint, lemongrass, basil, catnip & oils

Why oils?
Cinnamon, lemon, soybean, tea,
Greek catmint, Peppermint, neem oil
Because, it produces a cool
Effect in the skin, they don’t like to be cool!
It a repellent they feel… to their unwanted needs

They, instead prefers your red-hot blood
Full of CO2 …
They can smell afar from a distance
You call, on to them … with your blood
As rush these suckers enters in for quick meal

Next time want to repel a mosquito
Wear minty fragrances or garlic oils
They’ll hate you … you a loner …
This parasite will never enter your blood

This mosquito wants your blood
You say: “Yankee go home, Yankee, go!
Today, you will not taste my blood
It’s my war, am equipped …
This mosquito says:
“I Am a virgin, need ur blood 2day, not 2mow!”

We know, what we know?
Mosquitoes deadliest diseases dengue
Malaria, killing close 1 million yearly
West Nile, Yellow fever, chikungunya virus
Lymphatic filariasis, Eastern Equine Encephalitis (EEE)
Can lead to stuffiness
… headaches, to coma and more!

Malaria transmitted by mosquitoes Anopheles
Where, it incapacitates 200 million for days
Why mosquitoes, bite and not you?
Biting them back!
It was his scent, thus didn’t like you?
Try hot sauce, may leave you alone!

… with no discrimination to any nation
In Africa in recent years credit it’s goes
Invasive species both … Plasmodium falciparum and P. vivax, leaving its victims
In their death beds, as it strives … to get more!

How they get infected, if they born virgin?
By biting and more biting …
Of infected victims either humans or animals
Once they bite …
Eggs are lays onto stagnant water or soil

In water, eggs hatched
Where, you can visually
Experienced scenes of larva wiggling
As wiggler … tiny ripple effects, as you can see
As they emerged onto full mosquitoes

No longer virgin … It lost its virginity
Because, it took a bite of an infected, human
From an infected human or mammal
It was in such a rush …
Seeking an HIV victim without discrimination

Next time you think of a bug
Think of its size … you may see or not!
A microbe can only be seen thru naked eyes
Of a soul onto a microscope …
Malaria, can suck and feel your CO2 and soul!

So, next time you enter a room
What’s your preference?
You want to walk in
An elephant or a microbe?
You prefer to be noticed and/or unnoticed!
A bug, no one knows or knows your name!

As you place harm
With sounds of distress and river flies of death
Now, leave it … to a microbiologist, like me
To ID it this microbe!
As you become, become history, no more 2be!

As you l, hate this mosquito
Because, once
Was a virgin
Is no longer, a virgin,
Came after you ….

Minerva A. Garcia, your Poet

Originally Published January 28, 2021. In this special encore episode of How to Live A Fantastic Life, we revisit the incredible journey of Meridith Alexander and her daughter Schuyler. After a life-altering accident in 2016—when Schuyler was crushed by a massive boulder in South America—their story became one of resilience, determination, and transformation. This journey not only inspired Meridith’s bestselling book, The Sky is The Limit, but also serves as a testament to the power of the G.R.I.T. mindset.

Join us as we explore how adversity can become a catalyst for greatness, and how you, too, can leverage your unique gifts to create meaningful change in the world—both personally and professionally. Don’t miss this powerful conversation about courage, mindset, and the limitless potential within us all!

Guest Bio: Meridith Alexander is a bestselling author, resilience and peak performance coach, and G.R.I.T. mindset expert. Her book, The Sky is The Limit, became an Amazon #1 New Release in motivation, and her inspiring journey with her daughter has been featured worldwide. Through her G.R.I.T. Mindset Academy, Meridith helps clients break past limiting beliefs and unlock their full potential—even in the face of adversity. Her mission? To empower others to create a life they love, no matter the obstacles.

Social media links Meridith Alexander:
Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/GritMindsetAcademy/
LinkedIn – https://www.linkedin.com/in/meridith-alexander-skylimit/
Website – https://gritmindsetacademy.com/

Thanks for listening to the show!
It means so much to us that you listened to our podcast! If you would like to continue the conversation, please email me at [email protected] or visit our Facebook page at http://www.facebook.com/drallenlycka. We would love to have you join us there, and welcome your messages. We check our Messenger often.

This show is built on “The Secrets to Living A Fantastic Life.” Get your copy by visiting: https://secretsbook.now.site/home

We are building a community of like-minded people in the personal development/self-help/professional development industries, and are always looking for wonderful guests for our show. If you have any recommendations, please email us!

Dr. Allen Lycka’s Social Media Links

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We appreciate your feedback, as every little bit helps us produce even better shows. We want to bring value to your day, and have you join us time and again.  Ratings and reviews from our listeners not only help us improve, but also help others find us in their podcast app. If you have a minute, an honest review on iTunes or your favorite app goes a long way! Thank you!